Cigarette case



Oct. 21 1924.

H. D. HOUGH CIGARETTE CASE Patented Get. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT D. I-IOUGII, OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WIGHTMAN AND I-IO'U'GrlH COMPANY, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

CIGARETTE CASE Application filed October 27, 1920. Serial No. 419,801.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERBERT D. I-IoUGH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cranston, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigarette Cases, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates in general to an article for carrying small packages in the pocket and specifically relates to a cigar or cigarette carrying case or, rather to a case which is designed to carry the paper package of cigarettes as they are sold on the market.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and economically constructed form of case in which separate cigarettes or the paper package of the same can be readily mounted in protected position and from which the individual cigarettes may be withdrawn one at a. time as needed.

The invention features a two-part cover hinged together so as to form a closure designed to inclose a package holder hingedly mounted on the hinge connection between the parts of the covers and otherwise following in y general design similar conventional structures now in common use. The present disclosure features an improved form of holder characterized by being formed of a one-piece sheet metal stamping which can be constructed and mounted in place without the necessity of using complicated machinery or other reiined mechanical operations which have made present forms of such devices highin manufacturing costs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, neat and improved form of which is spring hinge connection which will simultaneously move the covers into open position and at the same time dispose the holder in a resiliently mounted upright position from which the cigarettes may be conveniently withdrawn without danger of breaking the same.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a form of holder, the upper edge of designed to facilitate the tearing of the paper cover or original wrapping freni the market package in exposing the contained elgarettes,

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying my invention, and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a view in side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention disposed in open position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged View of a part ofthe showing in Figure l and taken in section approximately on the broken line 2 2 of Figure l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the metal blank prior to its being folded into the holder shown in Fig. l.

In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience of expression but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

In the drawings there is shown a pair of dished covers 10 vand 11 pivotally connected along adjacent edges by a hinge connection l2. This hinge connection includes a plurality of eye forming lugs 13 extending from each of the covers in offset relation and bent back upon themselves to form aligned eyes. rThe lugs 13 are arranged so' that a pair of spaces are exposed so as to permit the mounting of the holder as hereinafter described. A locking rod 14 is passed through the eyes from both the cover and holder to complete the hinge connection.

For the purpose of projecting the covers into open position the pivotal connection includes a cover spring wire 15 passed through the eyes of the hinge, one end 16 of which bears on the inner side of the cover 10 as shown in full lines in Figure 2 and the opposite end 17 bears on the cover 11 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

The holder is formed from a single sheet Vof perforated and shaped sheet spring metal "W ith the in Figure 1. Similarly, each of the extensions is bent at right angles to the .piane ofthe bottom 18 and along the edges 19 so `as to formthe wide sides 2l of the completed holder.

The bottom 1,8 is provided with `two oppositely facing E-shaped slots which form lugs 26. VThese lugs are bent outwardly or downwardly and have their 4free edges turned back upon themselves to form eyes 27 passed about the locking rod 14 and disposed in the spaces between the lug eyes 13. For the purpose of maintaining' the holder in upright position shown in Figure 1, a holder spring rod 28 is passed through the aligned eyes 13 and 2T and'bears at its opposite ends 29 and 3G on :opposite sides of the upstanding lugs 26 beneath the bottom 18.

The upper edges of the holder are provided with a serrated paper cutting edge 31 and the parts are so proportioned that the cigarette package or original wrapper-extends above the cutting edge in position to permit a torn portion of the paper to be drawn across the serrated edge. The extensions 20 are provided withsta-mped out openings 32 which contribute to a light construction without impairing .the necessary rigidity of the sides 24.

In operation it will be understood-that this case is used in the Vmanner in which similar forms of cigarettecases are used and the opening ofthe cover. is effected by the release of a catch 33, which permits the spring 15 to action the .covers and movethe saine `into the open position shown in` Figure 1. At the same time the .spring28 acts upon the holder to displace the saine from the covers and position it inthe upstanding position shown in Figure 1.

The user will position the individual cigarettes or, preferably, the package of cigarettes in the holder, springing apart the sides 2d if this should be necessary. 'The resiliency of the metal will-cause the sides to spring back into normal position gripping the sides of the contained package.

In case of a close fit it is possible for the operator to work the package towards the Ybottom by engaging thegsame through the 32 in opposite sides of the holder.V package inV position .the .operator openings can tear off the paper covering making use f holder of the serrated edge in detaching' the torn parts of the paper package from the main body of the package. v

By means of a device of this character it is possible to construct a cigarette or cigarette-package holder by' a simple stamping operation and'a-ssemble'the parts by threading the wires 14', 15 and 28V through 'the hinge eyes and binding the ends of t-he wires 15 and 28 as suggested.

Having thus described my invention, lf claim: f

1. The combination with a two-part cover and a hinged connection for said cover parts, of a 4one-piece metal holder fashionedrto receive a package of cigarettes .or .the like in the original wrapper, having walls enclosing such package and split into portions having limited resilient movement relative to each other, and means for pivotally'connecting said holder .to the said hinge connection to permit said holder to nest in either of said cover sections position.

2. In a cigarette case, the combination with a pair of hinged'covers, of a one-piece metal holder movably connected to the covers to nest in cit-her of the cover sections, said lholder comprising' oppositely disposed sides having a resilient freedom of movement relative to each other hold a plurality of cigarettes and the wrapper thereof7 said side having serrated cutting edges on which to cut the wrapper.

3. ln a device of the class described, a holder to receive a plurality-of cigarettes and the wrapper therefor, comprising .oppostely .disposed sides havingfa limited relalwhen in their vopen yieldingly to tive movement to eachother to hold yieldingly the cigarette package, a bottom portion integrally connect-ing the` sides, a coverV for housing the holder, and a pivotal connection between thc cover and the holder, to permit said .lrolderxto nestA in the Vcover sections when the saine are open, said side having serrated cutting edges on which to;

.cut the wrapper.

.4. ln a device of theclass Vdescribed, a holder to receive a plurality offcigarettes and the wrapper therefor, comprising. op-

positely disposed sides having a limited relaV tive movement to each other to hold yieldingly the cigarette package, bottoni portion integrally connecting the sides, ktwo pivoted cover Ysections for housing the holder, and pivotal connection between the cover and the holder to permit said to .nest in either ofthe cover seetions whenever the saine are' open, Vthe holder havingV a serrated cutting edge Lon which to cut the wrapper.

5. ln a device of the .class :describedthe combination `of a pair of .covers, a hinged connection .therefor including. lugs'. formed integrally with each of'tliecovers andbent back upon themselves to form aligned eyes, a holder constructed to support a cigarette container and provided With a lug bent back upon itself to form an eye, a locking rod passed through the aligned eyes to complete the hinged connection, thereby to permit said holder to nest in the above sections When the same are open and a spring rod passed through certain of said aligned eyes and acting on the covers normally to maintain the same in open position.

6. In a cigarette package containing case, the combination With a pair of covers, of a one-piece met-al holder movably connected to the covers and enclosed thereby, said holder comprising oppositely disposed sides fashioned to receive a package ot' cigarettes in its original Wrapping and yieldingly hold said package against displacement and having cutting edges adjacent the upper portion of the cigarette Wrapping, lugs integral with the bottom of the holder forming eyes, and means engaging the eyes and the cover to form a pivot therefor and to permit the holder to nest in either of the cover sections when the same are open.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination With a cover of a one-piece sheet metal package holder including a bottom and oppositely disposed symmetrical sides resiliently connected by means of the bottom so as to have a limited i'leld of relative movement and having their upper edges serrated, lugs formed integrally With the bottom and adapted to constitute part of a means for maintaining the holder in position and a spring bearing on said lugs for disposing the holder in relation to the cover, said sides having flanges along at least some of their edges to support a cigarette package.

8. In a cigarette package containing case, the combination of a one-piece metal package holder including a bottom and oppositely disposed sides resiliently connected by the bottom to have a limited lield of relative movement, lugs formed integrally With said bottom provided With eyes, a cover comprising tivo parts for enclosing the holder, each of said cover-parts being provided With an eye, a locking rod engaging the eyes to form a pivot for the cover-parts and the holder, a spring mounted in the eyes and engaging the parts of the cover normally to hold same in a predetermined position, and a separate spring mounted in said eyes engaging the holder normally to hold the same in a predetermined position relative to the cover.

9. In acigarette package containing case the combination With a Cover, a one-piece sheet metal holder housed Within said cover, said holder having tvvo oppositely disposed sides integrally connected, said sides having flanges to surround a package of cigarettes and having serrated edges for use in opening packages held in the holder, said sides being resiliently movable with respect to one another.

Signed at NeW York in the county of New York and State of Neu7 York this 14th day of October A. D. 1920.

HERBERT D. HOUGH. 

